Volunteers inspire more of same

Third-generation Camp Fire girl helping to keep needy warm.

Third-generation Camp Fire girl helping to keep needy warm.

November 01, 2006|VIRGINIA RANSBOTTOM Tribune Staff Writer

She's helping to keep more than 100 needy children warm with hats this winter while capping off 13 years of being a Camp Fire Girl with a prestigious award. Catherine Laskowski, a Mishawaka High School junior, handmade the first 50 hats and encouraged the Camp Fire USA River Bend Council to make almost 80 more. The hats were donated to the South Bend chapter of the Christ Child Society. The donation is the crowning service project in earning the Camp Fire's highest and most honorable award -- the Wo-He-Lo Medallion. Meaning "Work-Health-Love," the medallion is equivalent to a Boy Scout becoming an Eagle Scout. Catherine chose the hat project for a special reason. Her grandmother, Irene McNulty, is a volunteer for the Christ Child Society, a non-profit organization that provides shoes, boots, coats and hats to needy children and infants. "I think it's a neat thing to do and I wanted to help little kids," Catherine said. "Since they couldn't seem to keep any hats on the shelf, I decided to make some." Volunteer service has been handed down in Catherine's family. Not only is her grandmother a volunteer, she too was once a Camp Fire Girl. And Catherine's mother? Yep. And not only was she a Camp Fire Girl, Peggy Laskowski is now the club director with three children in the youth organization. "Doing service projects starts kids out right and hopefully they'll do it throughout their lives," Laskowski said. Some recent projects include the Goodwill doll project. Camp Fire kids take old dolls donated to Goodwill, clean and dress the dolls and give them back. They are holding a Coat Drive for the St. Joseph County Youth Service Bureau, which passes out coats to youth in need on the streets. The club also solicited candy donations to pass out as volunteers at the Potawatami Zoo Boo. But what is Catherine's favorite part of being a Camp Fire Girl? Camping of course. Camp Fire USA is a coeducational youth organization focused on building self-esteem, character, leadership skills, and social responsibility. In March, the organization will be 96 years old. While the organization is on the grow with plenty of kids wanting to join, a shortage of adult volunteers is a new trend, said Laskowski. Staff writer Virginia Ransbottom: vransbottom@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6344